Scenes From My Kitchen

I'm not a natural 'foodie'; to be honest, the topic of food and meal preparation bores me beyond endurance, and if there is any job I would gladly give up in an instant it would be that of food provider.

I have spent the majority of my adult life living on toast and sandwiches; not because I am incapable of cooking, but because I just don't want to. It just seems that the energy expended in cooking the damn meal and cleaning up after it far exceeds that which is contained in the meal itself. And I have never been able to get excited about food. I just don't get it. Food is fuel which you shove in your gob to prevent the agent of death from taking hold. I have found that the worse food tastes the better it is for you and, worse, chocolate isn't even a food group.

Mealtimes are something I struggle with. Maybe it is because nobody likes anything I cook and pick over every morsel like they are conducting a forensic investigation determining just what the hell this crap on the plate in front of them is. Maybe it is because we have one male who considers anything not ruined by chili and tumeric or deep fat fried a non-food and ergo inedible; one male who likes only burgers; and one midget male who has a passionate loathing of bread, rice, vegetables, anything green, anything red, anything that began it's life as a seed or anything beginning with 'p'. When, exasperated, I asked him one day he DID want to eat, he emphatically announced, 'cake!' (is there any doubt he is my child?).

But even though I hate mealtimes and have an indifference bordering on the pathological towards food, I DO try to remember that mealtimes are more than just the food.

Sitting around the table as a family is something that can quickly be forgotten about in a quest for peace and expediency, especially as we all seem to have different body clocks when it comes to hunger, but there is something so fundamentally fulfilling about breaking bread together, that even though I can never get excited about food, I find myself getting quite passionate about having a family around a table together. It is the only thing that gets me cooking - the thought of a nicely laid table and the people I love around it talking. And one day, they may even eat my food.

That might be a good feeling too.

What meals are you cooking? Any recipes that you'd care to share? I really need some simple and tasty options!

Comments

[ummyusuf]

Assalamu alaikum,

....really, really, really know what you mean.Spot on exactly how I unfortunately feel, even down to the tumeric and chilli male in the house.....May Allah swt help us.Ameen !

[Mu Mu Design]

It's a drag isn't it? I'm amazed my lot haven't got scurvy...

[fouzia]

i feel pretty blessed now (sorry) after reading your post - hubby is sooooo not into everything pakistani/indian/chilli loaded/unheathly and LO has no option but to eat as there is nothing else to eat!
I have a great carrot cake receipe which i will get out inshallah. Today am baking lemon cake - ermmm it seems that i only bake cakes!!!

[Mu Mu Design]

I am glad my post has added to your gratitude! Yes cake recipes always welcome here ;-)

[aqeela]

We love jps with salad - our fave is an nyc jp (phillidelphia, yog, smoked salmon, paprika and chives mixed togeth and plonked on top).
Also, potato Bourgeoisie is a current fave (sliced potato, chopped red onion, layered in an oven dish, pour a tin of soup over - we like mushroom - and sprinkle with cheese, then put in oven till cooked).
We eat alot of potato!

[crazydaisy]

Roasted shallots (the long ones, not the teensy ones.). Put them in a roasting dish in their skins, drizzle with olive oil and some thyme sprigs and put in the oven. Voila. keep them there for about 35-40 minutes (check them for when they are a bit squishy when poked.)
When you serve them, crumble some cheese over them (wensleydale?) and have some break ready. get your fingers in and squeeze from their skins, and thank your lucky stars that you have taste buds!
enjoy x
not a main meal, i know, but great as a light supper x

[ummSuhayb]

recently i managed to find a meal that everyone likes (well almost everyone) and is easy to make: chicken fajita type dish.
Chicken breast in slices fried with onion, garlic, peppers and a a good sprinkling of paprika powder and salt to taste. Serve with some kind of flat bread eg pitta and creme fraiche mixed with some crushed garlic, salt, and salad. I think you have all food groups covered there.

[Mu Mu Design]

That might work for everyone except the midget! :)

[Hannah]

I *am* a foodie and I love hosting a dinner party, find baking relaxing or trying out a new recipe with sucess. So, I was trying to figure out why the day-to-day cooking was getting to me, as I enjoy other cooking so much. In the end I realised - it wasn't the act of cooking it was the minefield of trying to figure out what to cook that would satisfy everyone. It was only when my husband commented to the children "you don't know how lucky you are" that I realised - they are bloody lucky! How many kids get a homecooked meal EVERY day these days? With thought put into it and healthiness and taste taken into account, with fesh veg and fresh meat.
And then I remembered that as a child I was expected to try everything and be grateful and I wondered when I had allowed my children to become mini coneseurs and critics of the evening meal! So it's stopped. I take into account strong dislikes and try to avoid them but otherwise they have to have a stab at everything and I don't want to hear their negative comments - let them tell someone who cares.....oh wait, no-one does ;-) They all now will try new foods and get that if they don't eat it - that's it till breakfast. I don't give them grotesque foods with strong flavours so I don't thinks it's too harsh a rule.
Here's a new recipe I've used recently out of the Jamie Oliver at home book that might suit your family.
Lamb Kofta Kebabs: Get 500g minced lamb and mix with a couple of teaspoons of cumin, 2 teaspoons ground chilli, handful of chopped thyme, handful of chopped mint, grated zest of a lemon, salt and pepper and chopped nuts. The recipe calls for pistachios but I tried almonds instead and they were better in my opinion! Mix all together until it is all squishy like sausage meat. Squash and shape onto metal skewers, really squeeze it onto them, and then either grill or barbeque. Serve with a mixed leaf salad (inc fresh mint) in a flatbread with nat yoghurt or with new pots and salad. xxxx

[Mu Mu Design]

I think I would enjoy mealtimes if it was for adults although I do fret that my food comes out looking like slop. Eldest has now got to the age where he will eat most things just for a peaceful life and covers everythign with chilli sauce. Midget is still at the poke your finger in the meal to find out if it's dead stage and refuse to eat a morsel. DH is a another challenge. Got meat covered but green stuff?? I'm out of ideas...  :S

[Hannah]

Well your opnly option is the art of disguise. Meatballs are the best for this. You can put a lot of hidden veg in in meatballs as long as it has been through the food processor and doesn't change the colour of the meat you will be safe. I've put carrot and peppers in my meatballs before without being busted! I'm thinking courgette might work too.

[Mu Mu Design]

YOu little sneak!!. But great idea *narrow eyes* food processed vege - the suckers wont know what's hit them. I think I could do this with lasagne as well. *high fives H*

[[email protected]]

salaam alaykum!
I love your blog, it gives me alot of inspiration, keeps me connected and makes me want to have kids soon inshAllah!

Anyways, there is a great websites with easy recipes on it, its rated in many ways and has helped me alot with cooking for a picky husband! http://www.allrecipes.com

Another recipe for you and your boys:
cut up chicken breast with balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, oregano (dry or fresh) and salt and pepper marinated over night.
- then put on BBQ skewers and fried up!
- I serve on a pita/naan with some salad and feta cheese with garlic sauce/hummos or whatever dip is in the fridge!

[Mu Mu Design]

ooh that sounds yummy. yes meat is never hard to eat in our house - its just vegetables I am just lost with. Unless it's chilli pepper ;-)